Weekly Screen Buzz
The Oscar nominations were announced this week and with them brought quite the buzz. Paramount released its 2024 strategic plan - maximising content, driving streaming profitability and "further unlocking the power of One Paramount". Layoffs were announced, but no exact number at this stage. Does this mean that Paramount is getting ready to be acquired as Skydance continues its plans to acquire Paramount Pictures?? Masters Of The Air and Expats hit our screens and Netflix released their quarterly results showing a bumper Q4 adding 13 million subscribers combined with strong profit margins. Netflix also announced a $5 billion content deal with WWE which is another blow to linear TV and another huge win for their streaming platform. Results from AT&T and Comcast were also released. Mattel riding high on the success of Barbie have started plans to make Bob The Builder with Jennifer Lopez producing.
Film and TV
AppleTV+ released the first two episodes of Masters Of The Air. A strong cast led by Austin Butler, it tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group, which was part of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) over the skies of Europe in WW2. They came to be known as the “Bloody 100th” due to the heavy losses they suffered at the hands of the Luftwaffe between 1943 and 1945 as they engaged in daylight bombing missions destroying key German targets. Masters Of The Air is a different type of combat film we have not seen before. The tension is high and the risks even higher as I watched in awe and with enormous pride seeing these young men on a daily basis partake in dangerous but vital bombing missions which at times feel like suicide missions. Masters Of The Air received strong reviews - it is great viewing and will be another winner for AppleTV+.
Expats was released on Prime which Nicole Kidman both stars and produced which received very strong reviews telling the story of expatriates as they navigate through life in Hong Kong against the backdrop of a family tragedy. Next on my list.
I finished Succession this week. In another bingeing frenzy I watched my way through four seasons of the highly dysfunctional, and at times traumatised Roy family led by Logan Roy, played impeccably by Brian Cox. The four Roy children are a mixture of entitled, wealthy, morally corrupt, and emotionally wounded who are constantly vying for both control of the family company, Waystar|RoyCo and their father's approval. They never quite gain either, but it is the last 3 episodes of Season 4 that we see all of their pain and finally the realisation that none of them were ever going to take over as successor. It was a TV finale of the ages. Extraordinary acting, brilliant script writing with a mixture of satire, crazed intensity and graceful nuances, this is one of the best TV shows I have ever seen, but also uncomfortable. It was not easy to watch and for the entire four seasons I had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The awards and accolades - well deserved.
Oscar Nominations
At the 92nd Oscars, Little Women received 6 nominations - Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and winning for Best Costume Design. No Best Director nomination for Greta Gerwig then and no Best Director nomination for Greta Gerwig this year for Barbie. Did both of these artistic, socially impactful and commercially successful films just up and direct themselves?? Gerwig's exclusion put a dampener on this year's Oscar nominations which otherwise was a celebration of diversity and a spectacular testament to the relentless dedication of the filmmakers nominated. Oppenheimer will probably take home the big prize and Christopher Nolan for Best Director, and Cillian Murphy Best for Actor, but Martin Scorsese is again nominated and has never won. I actually think this year's Oscars will be a battle between Oppenheimer and Flowers of the Killer Moon. We will see though on 11 March!
Quarterly Results
Netflix, AT&T and Comcast released numbers this week.
领英推荐
Netflix FY2023
Over the next week the focus will be on Quarterly Reporting Season
Until next week...thanks for reading!
Susie
B2B Marketing & Partnerships | Streaming TV | OTT |TV & Film
1 年Thanks for sharing Susie! How incredible would it be if Scorsese did win an Oscar this year?! Have you watched any of Boy Swallows Universe? Based on the book. (Netflix, coming of age Aussie show) - highly recommend it ??